West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-04
THE NEW SOUTH AND THE
FALSE PROPHETS.
Philadelphia Record.


The rapid and vigorous develop
ment of manufacturing industries in
the South, as revealed in recent sta
tistical reports, is genuine cause
for patriotic exultation. So far from
menacing Northern industries, as
may be apprehended in some quar-
ters, Southern prosperity will
strengthen them. Whatever shall
promote the welfare of one portion
of the common country cannot fail
to benefit all the rest; so that the
evidences of Southern progress, in
stead Of exciting sectional jealousy
and apprehension, ought to give
cause for sincere congratulation at
this season, when the nation has
just entered upon new year in its
history. Evidences of this progress
are seen not only in the extent but
in the variety of new enterprises in
the South. That Industrial system
which, partly from necessity and
partly from choice, was confined to a
narrow range of products, has been
put aside, and the Southern people,
having aroused their dormant ener-
gies, find themselves capable of sue
cessfnlly competing with all comers
in many fields of manufacturing en-
terprise.
When the civil war ended, the
South, bleeding and exhausted. was
PROSTATE. Manufactures, except
such as were absolutely necessary
for the wants of an agricultural peo-
pie, had no existence. The lines Of
railroad communication had been
broken and destroyed. An indus
trial system based on slavery had
been overthrown. Capital ut home
and abroad, though idly massed and
waiting for investment, was distrust-
full of any undertaking in the South.
The political conditions succeeding
the war have also been extremely
unfavorable. Statesmen of the
school of Sherman and Blaine, from
whom Northern capitalists have
been accustomed to take advice, were
necessarily warning the country of
the mischief, political, social and in
dustrial, that would result from a
change of party government.
With such drawbacks and dis
couragements industrial develop
ment in the South was necessarily
backward. Confidence, which is the
soul of enterprise, is proverbially a
plant of slow growth. But the polit-
ical change so much dreaded has
been realized. aud the result has
come clearly before the country.
This result has shown the fallacy of
the predictions of evil made by par
tizan prophets. Nothing has afford
ed so complete discontinue of the
false prophets as has this great
growth of industries in the South.
In 1885. the first year of Democrat
ic administration, the Investment Of
capital in new manufacturing and
mining enterprises in the South is
shown in the Manufacturers Rec
ord, of Baltimore, to have been $685.
100000. Large as is this amount,
it is shown by the same authority
that the investments in new South
ern individual enterprises amounted
to $130,000,000 in the year which
has just closed, the second Of Demo-
cratic administration.
1t would be bad imitation Of
partisan folly and absurdity to at
tribute this remarkable industrial
growth TO mere change of party gov
ernment. The industrial Sonth has
been moving steadily upward and
onward in spite of partisan misrepre-
sentation. But political change
was necessary in order to convince
the timid and the unrefecting. who
habitually took their opinions from
party leaders and party organs, how
false were the fearful prophecies of
the political evil that would result
from Democratic accession to power.
The partizan birds Of evil omen,
with their croaking cries of section
alism, will not be trusted again i'll
political campaign, while capital will
continue to seek profitable invest
ment in the South with as much
readiness and assurance of security
as in any other portion of the conn
try. The political change has dem
onstrated that no party in this land
has monopoly and an inheritance
in the government; and in this fact
is substantial guarantee of the
stability of iss political and social
institutions. The whole of this
country is greater than any Of its
parts or its parties.
SPANISH GAI.LEONS.